Brief thoughts on 1917.

The devastation of World War I can never be understated, with its extensive loss of life as one of the deadliest wars in history, resulting in the deaths of 700,000 British soldiers alone. While that side of the war has been showcased to us several times before, from Steven Spielberg's War Horse to Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old, none have approached it with the visceral immediacy achieved by a post-Bond Sam Mendes, in the uniquely crafted 1917, my last major release of 2019, and a stunning swan song for it at that.

The Irishman movie review.

In October of 2019, director Martin Scorsese put forth a passionate response over the state of cinema today. Hailing from the auteur-driven heyday of the 70's, the Taxi Driver and Raging Bull director faced backlash after comparing Superhero films (and abrasive studio filmmaking in general) to theme park rides, noting how mechanical it made the theater going experience by forcing out more intimate, personal, independent fare, and director-driven projects. He's since clarified his talking points amidst confusion, and I can't say I disagree with him.

I am something of a blockbuster loyalist, but even so, it frustrates me how commonplace that studio influence is, with even Joker having to depend on the DC brand name, since no one would pay attention to it otherwise. It's no wonder why the Academy Award winner, when bringing his long-gestating passion project The Irishman to the big screen, would be forced to turn to streaming giant Netflix, themselves a commonly blamed culprit for the downfall of cinema, just for it to see the light of day. The whole disparagement between art and commerce is a can of worms that's not worth getting into right now, lest it take away from the spectacular work that Scorsese's patience finally made possible. Simply put, The Irishman is one of the best films he has ever made.

Brief thoughts on Little Women.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott has been a literary staple since its 1869 publication, becoming a smash hit with readers, specifically its target demographic of young girls finding their place in the world, who still gravitate to it to this day. Having inspired numerous film adaptations since, from those starring Katharine Hepburn and Winona Ryder, it goes to show what a thoughtful story the book is that any new artist can still find new life in it, as writer/director Greta Gerwig does in her fantastic follow-up to Lady Bird.

Brief thoughts on Uncut Gems.

America is many good things, but it is also not a perfect nation. As one of its more glaring flaws, it is a country overwhelmed by competitive capitalism, where the pursuit of happiness can be warped into something more sinister. As unfiltered greed and obsession with money can send egos spiraling out of control, such dark ambitions can even destroy those unfortunate to be cursed by it. Even the most unassuming of men can be turned into husks if not careful, showcased to us through the Safdies-directed/Sandler-starring Uncut Gems, which may just be the most nail-biting movie of 2019.

Why Cats is a fascinating failure...Brief thoughts.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats has been a staple of the Broadway musical scene for decades, debuting in 1981 to a mixed reception, but has garnered a massive following in the years since. It remains one of the most popular musicals of all time, standing as the fourth longest running Broadway show, and garnering $3.5 billion dollars in sales. It's those reasons why a film adaptation felt obvious, but through several failed attempts, including from Amblimation before the studio's closure, it isn't until now that we finally get it, brought to us by Les Miserables director Tom Hooper... and it's a trainwreck. Simple as that. There's no graceful way of putting that.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie review.

When Disney bought out Lucasfilm in 2012, their first major move was to greenlight an upcoming Episode VII, which resulted in the J.J. Abrams directed The Force Awakens, pleasing both critics and Star Wars devotees still burned by the prequels, crafting a sweeping story that felt both familiar and fresh, brought to life by stellar new characters and an abundance of spectacle.

Cut to two years later for The Last Jedi from director Rian Johnson, a movie I also loved, even if it was and still is a polarizing movie for how much it tinkered with the fabric of Star Wars, leading to a vindictive outcry from the most toxic of Wars fans.

And so, cut once more to two years later, where this new Star Wars trilogy comes to an end, coaxing J.J. Abrams back for one more adventure, to close off the epic Skywalker saga. It doesn't help, for The Rise of Skywalker is a crushing disappointment as a final chapter.

Also, potential spoilers are to follow in this review, so for those wishing to go in blind, read at your own risk.

2019 Catch-up reviews.

I haven't felt like writing much as I used to do. In what I assume is a natural ebb and flow, I've felt less compelled to trace down my thoughts on *every* new movie I get a chance to check out, certainly not helped by an ever-hectic personal life, and in the future, I may feel less compelled to give as many movies an essay like examination. However, just because I'm writing less doesn't mean I'm seeing less, and I do have a number of films to offer thoughts on. So before the conclusion to the galaxy far, far away eats up my attention, I'm going to do some catch up on some films I've checked out over the year, which you should see if you get the chance. Enjoy, everyone!